Method of preserving ether



July 14, 1 931. E. lvlmLlicKRom,v JR., law-Au. 1,314,718

mamon oF PR'EsEnvING ETHER original Filef'ov. r1'7, 1927 STA Patented July 14, 1931 rUhu-"IED STATES f Parana' orties EDWARD MALLINCKRODT, JR., OF ST. LOUIS, AND HENRY V. FARB, 0F FERGUSON, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS TO MALIJINCKROD'I CHEMICAL QWORKS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI i i l METHOD -OF 'PRESEEVING ETHER original appiioation moa November iranischen No. ceases. Divided ami ons application filed-` serial no. 316,218.

october s1, 192s.

gard to certain more vspecific features, to a new and improved ,package for ethyl ether. This is a division of our patent No. 1,697,320, dated January 1, 1929.

Among the several objects ofthe invention may be noted the provision of means for protecting packaged ether from certain deteriorating influences exerted by the material `comprising the original inner surface of the enclosing package and the provision of means of the class described which are ecoillustrates va cross section of a package for nomical in application. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention `accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, arrangements of parts,

20|materials and the combinations rof materials Mand the steps and sequence of steps, which will be exemplified in the following description and the application of kwhich will be indicated in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawing, the figure ether to which thepresent invention has been applied. y Y

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughoutythe specifica.-

tion and drawing.

Heretofore the conventional package ,for

etherhas comprised a metal can ha'vingthe4 general shape ofthe package'shown inthe drawing. However, the shape` ofthe 'can' or package is of substantially no consequence in this invention. This `previously used can was composed of conventional tin Vplate formed by the Vconventional process. Durf ing this process but after the tinning opera-M tion thereof, the plate passes through abath of hot zinc chloride which removes dross and oxides from the tin surface. Thereafter the sheet is ushed with-hot palm oil,

whereby most of-the zinc chloride is r'ee` 'f moved and the formation of an oxide film on the tin surface is substantially prevented.

We vhave-found that' aclean tin surface, prepared for ,example by the above process 5nd, and whether or not inthe presence of iron,

'exertsvwhat is thought to be ka catalytic or accelerating effect upon the reaction between ethyl ether and air, whereby ethyl peroxide and/or acetaldehyde is produced.

The tin cansr` (of which those made by the above processare merely representative) when filled with Aethyl ether, have been found to exert the above effect upon the formation of ethyl peroxide and/or `acetalf dehyde in the ether. The ether, filled contact with air, carries withit sufficient oxygen for the formation of these impurities, if thns catalyzed. It is conceivable that the effect may be other than catalytic, but in any case the invention described herein is effective independently of the theory of chemical action exerted by the inner tin orf the detriment of the subsequently packaged ,etliier. Even though the palm oil were Anot yundesirable per se, and were left on the tin,

thejether would cut through it and thereby permit the detrimental catalytic action of the tin to proceed.

Tt-is to` be Vunderstood that the above refmarks, as well as those following, apply to cans made by the above process, or puretin cans 'or` Vothers having inner `surfaces which are detrimental to the ether.

It has been proposed to .overcome the det# 'rimental catalytic action of the inner can Vsurfaces lbyfmerely introducinginto thel container analleged catalyst poison oranticatalyst. n i n .o

Gn the'other hand, the present invention comprises treatingv tin containersor similar packages so that a non-catalyticv orvpassive n' surface is produced on the innerface of the metal composing ythe can, said surfacebeing;

to be preferred in some instances.

both sides with a coat of tin 3 and formedY as a can or package 5.

Numeral 9 indicates the harmless inner passive surface. F or the production of this surface several different m thods of treatment have been found to be effective, of which one of the preferred forms is as follows:

The inner surface of the package, or the surface of the sheet material which is to become the inner surface, is treated with air and/or other gaseous oxidation means to formV a film of oxide on the surface. rl`his oxidizing action is accelerated by moistening the surface prior te applying the gas.

Oxygen performs the oxidation more quickly and easily than air; it is therefore It is to be understood that this invention includes generally any gaseous method of 'treating the interior surface of ether cans so to oxidize and/'or form an oxide film or coating thereupon. A preferred method is 'to wash the cans and permit them to air dry over a relatively long period, of 'the order of Qlhours. rlhe exact length of drying is of course a function of the gas used for oxidation and the condition of the air used in drying.

It will be seen from the above that one of the object-s of the invention is to treat the inner surface of the can, so that there is substantially no catalytic or other action between the inner surface and the ether and/or air within the can, thus obviating the necessity for using preservatives or other foreign substances.

Furthermore, the invention eliminates the expense of a can composed completely of the non-detrimental Vsubstance but, at slight expense, makes the ordinary economical tin can available for packaging ether.

It is tol be understood that the tin or other plate may be treated in the manner described before or after the can is formed. It is also to be understood that the inner surface of the cap Tmay be treated as above described if it is desired to manufacture the cap from material similar to the material composing the can. By entirely or completely surfacing of the inside of the can' is meant herein, at least the surfacing of the container portion or portions Without the cap, since the cap may be composed of non-detrimental material 'or its area may be so small that'its detrimental effect is negligible.

In View of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are Ying out the above, withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingV drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.V

wWe claim:

l. The method of packaging ether which comprises treating the tinned interior surfaces of metal packages for ether with an oxidizing Vto oxidize said surfaces, and introducing ether therein.

2. The vmethod of packaging ether which comprises oxidizing the tinned interior surfaces of metal packages for etherY by means of air oxidation, and introducing ether therein.

3. The method of packaging ether Which comprises oxidizing the tinned interior surfaces of metal packages for ether by means of oxygen, and introducing ether therein.

il. The method of packaging ether which compr moistening the tinned interior surfaces of nie-tal packages for ether and subsequently oxidizing said surfaces and introducing ether therein.`

5. The method of packaging ether which comprises moistening the tinned interior surfaces of metal packages for ether and subsequently oxidizing said surfaces by means of air oxidation, and introducing ether therein.

G. The method of packaging ether which comprises moistening with water the tinnedV interior surfaces of metal Vpackages for ether, subsequently oxidizing 'said surfaces, and introducing ether therein.

7. The method of packaging ether which comprises moistening with water the tinned interior surfaces of metal packagesv for ether, Vsubsequently oxidizing said surfaces by means of air oxidation, and introducing ether therein. s

8.',The` method of packaging ether which comprises moisteningwithvwater the tinned interior surfaces of metal packages for ether, subsequently oxidizing said surfaces by means of an oxidizing gas, and introducing ether therein. A

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification this 25th day of October, 1928.V y

EDW'ARD MALLINCKRODT, JR.

HENRY V. FARB. 

